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Hey there all you techie (or maybe not-so-tech-inclined) readers!
Regardless of your tech savvy, this week’s edition is designed to help you successfully integrate tech solutions that can streamline your work. Whether you’re rethinking your tools, looking for funding, or brainstorming your next fundraiser, we’ve got actionable advice and ideas to set you up for success.
Welcome to The Impact!
Pitfalls and Pointers
⚠️ Pitfall: Rolling Out New Tech Tools Without Team Buy-In
Implementing new tools without consulting your team can lead to resistance and underuse.
Without understanding their concerns or involving them early, the transition may feel forced and chaotic—and you’ll probably end up wasting time and money on an unsuccessful uptake!
💡 Pointer: Engage Your Team in All Aspects of Implementing New Tech Tools
Set yourself up for success! Make sure you have buy-in from team members at all levels across your organization to ensure that the roll-out of new tech will go off without a hitch.
Here are some tips for how to do this well:
- Involve the Team Early: Encourage staff input when evaluating new tools. When people feel heard, they’re more likely to embrace change.
- Highlight the Benefits: Demonstrate how the tool saves time or reduces workload. Share real-world scenarios where it adds value.
- Provide Comprehensive Training: Invest in workshops, tutorials, or “tech champions” to support staff during onboarding. Confidence leads to quicker adoption.
- Monitor & Celebrate Wins: Track progress and celebrate milestones—like reduced manual tasks or increased collaboration. Positive reinforcement goes a long way!
Want to see this in action?
👉 Check out how three nonprofits successfully turned the tide with new tech tools!
Tech You Should Know
What:
Digital Driver’s Ed
Navigating technology shouldn’t feel like learning to drive on a freeway. That’s where Digital Driver’s Ed by The Human Stack comes in. They provide a step-by-step course designed to help organizations build sustainable tech systems with ease.
How Grant Writers Can Use It to Streamline Their Nonprofit’s Tech Stack:
- Clarify what tools your team needs (and doesn’t need!)
- Improve workflows by eliminating redundancies
- Enhance productivity across all departments
Pro Tip:
Start with their free quiz to evaluate your current tools and see where you should begin!
🚀 Explore Digital Driver’s Ed!
Expert Perspectives
🏆 Margit Brazda Poirier on Using AI to Find and Approach Funders
Margit Brazda Poirier, the founder of Grants4Good LLC, shares her secrets to harnessing AI for nonprofit success. Margit has experience on both sides of the grant landscape: both as a funder working for a large foundation and as a grant writer securing government, corporate and private grants! In this webinar, she digs into the details of how to leverage AI tools to boost your organization’s potential.
Here’s her expert advice:
- Start With AI-Powered Research: AI tools can help you uncover funders aligned with your mission in a fraction of the time. Margit suggests asking questions like “Which community foundations serve [my city] and do they make cash grants to nonprofits?”. Once you have your results, you can follow up by asking, “Which organizations have been funded by that foundation?” to better assess your fit.
- Use AI to Build Funder Relationships: If you’re interested in a particular foundation, Margit suggests asking AI, “Is anyone on the [X foundation] board affiliated with [my city]?” You can easily check for potential connections, points of overlap, or shared interests in just seconds.
- Think of AI as Your Assistant, Not Your Replacement: AI doesn’t replace institutional knowledge or tools like Instrumentl. In fact, Margit recommends using AI alongside traditional software like Instrumentl to get the greatest impact.
Curious to know more?
📣 Dive into the full workshop with all of Margit’s tips for applying AI in your organization!
Fundraising Inspiration
Host a Trivia Night with TriviaHub!
🎉 TriviaHub offers customizable trivia events that can double as fun fundraisers.
With virtual, hybrid, or in-person options, you can design an event that draws in a crowd of supporters eager to have fun while also contributing to your cause! They offer nonprofit discount packages and personalized event planners when you book, making this an easy and cost-effective fundraising strategy!
How it works:
- Choose a theme for your trivia event.
- Use TriviaHub’s platform for ready-to-go games.
- Sell tickets or secure sponsorships to raise funds.
Your community gets an engaging night of fun, and your nonprofit earns funding—all while strengthening donor relationships. Check out all of their resources to begin planning your next big donor engagement event!
🏆 Plan your trivia fundraiser today!
Opportunities Spotlight
💪 The Awesome Foundation Grants
Who It’s For: Nonprofits or individuals with “awesome” project ideas all over the world!
Next Deadline: Rolling
Grant Amount: $1,000
The Details: Each Awesome Foundation chapter defines “awesome” for themselves, funding projects around the world in the fields of arts, technology, community development, and more. They look for projects that spark joy, show creativity, and seek to inspire others!
🌟 RRF Foundation for Agency: Advocacy Grants
Who It’s For: Nonprofit organizations located anywhere in the United States working to enhance the lives of older Americans
Next Deadline: Letter of Inquiry- February 1, 2025
Grant Amount: $10,000- $160,000
The Details: The Retirement Research Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life for our nation’s older adults. This grant funds projects that seek to address systemic issues, advance policies that affect the elderly population, and partner with organizations to best utilize resources to serve this group.
Need more funding options?
🎯 Search Instrumentl’s comprehensive database for grants now!
Networking Nook
💻 WORKSHOP: Grant Writing USA Virtual Grant Writing Workshop
February 10-11, 2025 | 11:00 am- 6:00 pm ET | Online
Whether you’re new to grants or a seasoned pro, this interactive session will help you refine your skills and craft winning proposals.
To check out more recent and upcoming live events, go here.
In Case You Missed It
📑 Article: How to Create a 12-Month Grant Funding Strategy Using Instrumentl: Step-by-Step Guide
In this article, we discuss how a well-structured 12-month grant funding strategy can streamline the grant-seeking process and increase success rates. This guide outlines a month-by-month plan, covering key activities like prospect research, application writing, and follow-up reporting.
📑 Article: 91k Grant Applications Reveal Success Rates for Nonprofits
This data report dives into success rates for various grant types, analyzing over 91,000 applications to uncover insights that can help nonprofits prioritize their efforts. We highlight which grant types—like federal, state, foundation, or corporate—offer the best opportunities, and provides actionable strategies to improve application success.
Instrumentl Can Help You Find Your Next Grant
Ready to find grants that can enhance your mission?
Check out our extensive grants database which features more than 400,000 funders and 17,000+ active grant opportunities. New opportunities are added weekly!
